John Hill - An Obituary by Gerry Tiernan



While in Mombassa, due to faulty wiring on my Touratech computer I had reason to ring Bracken Motorcycles in South London for advise on how to fix it. They have been one of our supportive companies in this adventure of ours and naturally the person I enquired after was John Hill who throughout our preparation for this trip has been a mine of information to us regarding technical matters and this advise and exceptional efficiency in sourcing and sending on equipment we needed was invaluable. In many ways we were almost like his personal customers but knowing John’s energy I know that everyone who dealt with him got the same treatment.

Needless to say, when we heard that he had only just been killed in a motorcycle accident we were both deeply shocked but especially so John who had met him at the Alexandra Palace show and had built up a relationship to the point of a good friendship. As any of the lads in Bracken will testify they were constantly in contact on the phone and no technical problem seemed to be beyond John Hill’s grasp. For days after hearing the news John was in shock and it speaks volumes for the regards he held in him. John Hill was a very rare breed, one of those highly competent and capable people who rarely come along. His energy was boundless and his willingness to help customers was exceptional. That Austin, John Watson Miller, Nick and all the staff at Bracken, not to mention us the customers have lost someone like John Hill is a sad loss but nothing against the measure of loosing such a fine person that happens along only once in a lifetime. The loss his partner though must be feeling now can’t be touched on and to try and explain why someone so good should die so tragically young can’t be reasoned.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

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